Shohei Ohtani hits first homer since return, and 'it was a no-doubter'

Kirstie Chiappelli

Shohei Ohtani hits first homer since return, and 'it was a no-doubter' image

Shohei Ohtani seems to be getting back in the swing of things.

The Angels designated hitter slugged his first home run since making his return from Tommy John surgery in the team's 5-4 win over the Twins on Monday.

“I was seeing the ball really well the whole time, but my timing was just a little off, and the way I was making contact, the angle was a little off,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, via MLB.com. “But I’ve been hitting the ball in the air recently, and I think it showed today that I’m improving.”

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Ohtani, who was activated from the injured list last Tuesday, hasn’t been back in the lineup long but is already starting to look like his old self. He finished Monday’s game 2 for 3 with two walks after entering the game 4 for 21 with no extra-base hits in his at-bats. The homer was the 23rd of his MLB career and his first since Sept. 2018.

"We all know the power is there, and that was a no-doubter," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. "You don’t see a lot of balls go the other way from many people that way."

While the Japanese phenom won't pitch this season, he is already giving the Angels the offensive boost they need to remain a contender in the AL West.

The Angels will look to continue their streak after picking up their fifth victory over their last seven games when they visit the Twins at 7:40 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Kirstie Chiappelli